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Origin and history

The house of the Towers is the only vestige of Lesvescault Castle, built in the 15th century in the town of Villefagnan by the bishops of Poitiers, on which this commune depended before the Revolution. This episcopal fief sheltered their local residence, marked by defensive architecture: two round towers with flat tiles frame an entrance porch, extended by a fence wall. These elements, which have been listed as historical monuments since 1951, retain traces of braces and mâchicoulis, as well as a crenellated gallery worn by stone consoles. Inside, the towers feature dome vaulted ground floor, while access was once via a staircase that was now gone, linked to the destroyed house body.

The site occupied a strategic crossroads of Villefagnan, underlined by a monumental entrance combining a full-walled gate and a pedestrian door. On the courtyard side, the wall repeats the pattern of the slot consoles, with access to the gallery via a spiral staircase in a corbelled turret. Two square towers also remain, integrated with the still standing part of the house. In the centre of the courtyard, a recent construction contrasts with medieval remains. The house thus illustrates the episcopal power in Poitou-Charentes, mixing residential functions and symbols of defensive prestige.

The building reflects the history of Villefagnan, the fief of the bishops of Poitiers until the Revolution, and its role in the diocese. The protected elements (tours, porch, wall) testify to a transitional architecture between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, where military devices (mâchicoulis) are alongside more residential facilities. The location on the Rue du Temple (formerly 2 Rue du Temple) and its inscription in 1951 make it an emblematic heritage of the Charente, now accessible for visits or cultural events.

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